The oddsmakers are not sure what the Miami Dolphins will do against the New York Jets in Week 18 with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s status still in question.
The Miami Dolphins head into Week 18 of the 2024 season with a playoff berth on the line as they face the New York Jets. With Miami fighting for the postseason and the Jets simply looking to finish off a disappointing year and start preparing for 2025, the Dolphins would appear to have the advantage in motivation for the week. Questions about the status of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa linger, however, and could lead to Miami starting Tyler Huntley for the fifth time this year.
Tagovailoa missed the team’s Week 17 win over the Cleveland Browns with a hip injury. Initially sustained in Week 15 against the Houston Texans, the injury was exacerbated against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, with it not getting better throughout the week of practice leading into the Browns contest. Now, as the team prepares for a must-win game against their AFC East rivals, the Dolphins still do not seem sure if Tagovailoa will be ready for Sunday.
“I think it was about the timing of when the game was relative to his recovery process from the last week which was a different timeline than the week previous,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday looking at the injury to Tagovailoa and its impact on Week 17. As for Week 18’s outlook, McDaniel added, “So where does that leave us? Firmly in the unknown.”
He continued, saying, “I know one thing, Snoop (Tyler Huntley) will get more reps than Tua this week as we go through the week and have to be prepared for both guys to play because I don’t really know exactly what it’s going to look like this next Sunday. So that’s really the optimism, we’re kind of in a gray area now because of just how his body did not cooperate with my agenda.”
The oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook seem about as certain about which version of the Dolphins will show up on Sunday as McDaniel does about which quarterback he will have.
What are the records for both teams?
Miami climbed to 8-8 on the season, needing one win to claim a fifth-straight winning record for the season. A win and a loss by the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs would give the Dolphins a third-straight playoff appearance. There is a lot left on the table for Miami in Week 18, but the quarterback question will be the biggest talking point heading into the game.
The Jets are 4-12, despite preseason predictions that they could be AFC East division champions and challenge for the AFC’s spot in the Super Bowl. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been frustrated throughout much of the season, but they are in position to play spoiler for Miami. New York is in the seventh position in the 2025 NFL Draft projection, a game ahead four teams tied for the worst record in the league. A win could push New York out of the top ten in picks in April. Will they come out looking to win and ruin Miami’s playoff chances, or are they ready to shut it down and move on to the Draft?
What is the all-time history between the teams?
This will be the 118th meeting in the regular season between the division rivals, with games dating back to Miami’s second game in franchise history, a 1966 Week 2 AFL game with New York beating the Dolphins 19-14. All-time, however, Miami has the advantage 60-56-1. In the playoffs, the Dolphins have won the one meeting.
The teams met in the first half of the annual two-game series back in Week 14. The Dolphins won the game in Miami with a 32-26 score.
What are the FanDuel Sportsbook odds?
The Tagovailoa question continues to impact the spread in a Dolphins game. Last week, the 6.5-point margin immediately dropped three points when word came out Tagovailoa was doubtful to face the Browns. Now, even with Miami having a shot to win their way into the postseason, the line remains fairly close. It opened last night with the Dolphins favored by 2.5 points. By Monday afternoon, it has continued to tighten, with Miami favored by just 1.5 points as of publication.
Spread: Dolphins -1.5
Moneyline: Dolphins -120 | Jets +102
Point total: 40.5
